Madrid: Atletico Madrid moved back to the top of La Liga on Thursday night after a 2-0 win at home to relegation-threatened Huesca in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Once again, Atletico failed to excite, but controlled most of the play and took advantage of their best chances in the game, which saw Angel Correa open the scoring after beating two defenders shortly before halftime and Yannick Carrasco, who scored with just over 10 minutes to go after good work from Marcos Llorente.
FC Barcelona move back into third place (all be it with a game in hand over Atletico and Real Madrid) thanks to a 5-2 win at home to Getafe.
Leo Messi opened the scoring after running clear of the Getafe defense in the eighth minute and though Clement Lenglet’s unlucky own goal shortly afterward made it 1-1.
A dreadful error from Sofian Chalka saw him put the ball into his own net in the 27th minute before Messi’s quick feet saw him net his second of the game (and his 25th of the season) five minutes later.
Enes Unal pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 68th minute after substitute Ronald Araujo caught him, but the Uruguayan made amends in the closing minutes with a near-post header and Antoine Griezmann added a fifth in injury time.
Real Sociedad returned to fifth place after coming back from a goal down to beat Celta Vigo 2-1. Hugo Mallo’s 21st-minute header put Celta in front, but Portu equalized just four minutes later and Adnan Januzaj won the game from the penalty spot in the 38th minutes after Alexander had seen a penalty saved with the score 1-1.
Eibar is starting to look increasingly doomed to relegation after crashing to a 4-1 defeat in Granada to extend their run of games without a win to 16.
Roberto Soldado scored into the 20th and 76th minute for Granada, while Antonio Puertas and Kenedy also got on the scoresheet for the home side, while Kike Garcia gave Eibar brief hope in the 63rnd minute.
On Wednesday night Real Madrid had moved to the top of the table after a 3-0 win in Cadiz, while Sevilla remained in the title fight with a 1-0 win away to Levante.
Elsewhere, Betis and Athletic Club Bilbao drew 0-0. Elche and Valladolid drew 1-1. Alaves won 2-1 at home to Villarreal and Osasuna defeated Valencia 3-1 to continue their impressive second half of the season.